Mary Spilecki
— Manchester Mary T. Spilecki, 92, of Manchester, passed away peacefully Jan. 28, 2023. Mary was born in Fall River, Mass., on July 29, 1930. She graduated from Durfee High School in June of 1947, where she played on the basketball team. She was married to Francis J. Spilecki July 28, 1951, at Holy Cross Church in Fall River, Mass. They were married for 69 years.
Mary first worked for the telephone company. After marriage and moving to Connecticut, she became a homemaker who worked part time at several local retail stores. She belonged to the Manchester Woman’s Club, was a member of the St. Bridget’s Rosary Society and volunteered at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Later in life, Mary was also a member of the Manchester Senior Center and their Friendship Circle, where she had many friends.
She spent many summers on the beaches in Newport, R.I., with her family, and in later years enjoyed the Connecticut Shore with her two grandsons, Alex and Blake. Mary enjoyed her bridge group for over 30 years, while perfecting numerous great dessert recipes to serve to the ladies. She and Frank took several wonderful trips together including a train trip across Canada, and a number of trips to Bermuda, where Mary loved the pink sand.
She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and her wonderful sense of humor.
Mary is survived by her daughters, Cathy Jensen and husband Wade of Westerly, R.I., Deborah Toop and husband David of Manchester, and Sandra Spilecki of Manchester. She is also survived by two grandsons, and their families: Alexander Jensen, his wife Sandra and son Webb of Charlotte, N.C., and Blake Jensen, his wife Liz and daughters, Maddy and Olivia of Norfolk, Mass. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Mary enjoyed a special relationship with her niece Jane Sweeny of Newport, R.I.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Sophie Quigley; her husband Francis J. Spilecki; her brother Edward Quigley and his wife Anne; her sister Ellen Sweeny and her husband Gordon; brother-in-law Robert Spilecki and his wife Jean; brother-in-law Stanley Spilecki; and two nephews, Jeff Sweeny and Brian Spilecki.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Bridget’s Church in Manchester at a future date as announced by the family. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family in Newport, R.I. Memorial donations may be made to the building fund at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, 80 Main St., Manchester, CT 06042. Mary’s family wishes to thank the staff at Salmon Brook Nursing facility in Glastonbury for their care and kindness to Mary while she was a resident — her favorite things being cookies, ice cream and bingo with the recreation staff! For online condolences, please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome. com.